Q. I just got a new LG HE front-loading washer (love it)! I am using regular Clorox (love it also)! Should I switch to CloroxPlus™ HE Bleach? I have heard stories (and seen videos online) of terrible over-sudsing when using non-HE detergent (because of the surfactants, I think). Any advice?

A. Congrats on the new HE washer, and thanks for being a loyal Clorox® Regular-Bleach user.

Your fears about over-sudsing from using regular laundry products in the HE machine are very valid. As for converting to CloroxPlus™ HE Bleach, I definitely recommend it. We developed it specifically for the new HE washers. Its benefits include:
• A slightly higher bleach active level to help make up for the reduced volume you can add into HE washers’ bleach dispensers
• A thicker consistency to make it easier to pour into those small and higher up bleach dispensers
• Special ingredients to ensure that you get the whitest whites
There are no sudsy surfactants as well, so that eliminates that concern.

Also if you plan to use our Clorox2® Stain Fighter and Color Booster for your colored loads, make sure you add it into the DETERGENT dispenser rather than the bleach dispenser.

Q. I have had a problem with random small spots appearing on red clothes after washing. It doesn’t seem to matter what kind of detergent I use. I always wash my red load in cold water. I never get these spots on any other color of clothing. What could the problem be?

A. This certainly can be a frustrating problem. I'm especially intrigued by why only the red items are affected. It is possible that this problem may be occurring with the other clothing, but just isn't as visible on the other colors.

My best guess is that the problem is caused by either fabric softener spots and/or undissolved powder detergent. To help prevent this, you might try using a little warmer/hot water as you add the powder detergent. Let 3-4 inches of warm water fill your machine, then swish/swirl this solution to help insure all the powder is dissolved. Switch back to cool/cold water, and then add another 3-4 inches of water before adding the red items.

Q. Is it okay to do a dark load after I bleach my white load, or will there be bleach still in the machine that can damage the darks?

A. It should be OK to do the darks after you have completed the bleached white load. I'm curious why you are concerned—it’s as if something has happened in the past to give you concern about this approach. And I'm not sure what you meant by "...the bleach is still in the machine.” After the rinse and spin cycles of the bleach load, all the bleach should have entered and been used up. Check out my videos on the blog (http://www.drlaundryblog.com) and view the "Laundry 101" video which shows the various ways to add bleach to your washer.

If you are still concerned, I might suggest that you stage your loads by doing whites, then lights, and finally darks. This should alleviate any concerns about bleach carryover.

Q. How can I remove dye from one shirt that was transferred from another? I’m not sure what to do because the stained shirt is not white.

A. I probably don't have very good news for you since the items aren't white and they probably have been dried in the dryer, which sets the dye on the new fabric.

I do find that a lot of colored items can be bleached. To find out if these items can safely be bleached, I recommend consumers do the quick Bleachability Test:

• Add 2 tspn Clorox® Regular-Bleach to 1/4 cup water
• Apply a drop on a hidden area like an inside seam or hemline for each color/area
• Wait 1 minute, then blot with towel

No color change will mean that it’s probably safe to use bleach on the item.

Any color change could also show you the amount of change in color that will occur if you proceed with the liquid bleach usage.

Want to proceed? I would do a quick liquid bleach soak (1/4 cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach in one gallon of cool water for 5 minutes), then wash immediately in the hottest water recommended on the item’s care label using detergent and 3/4 cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach. It might require multiple treatments to get the desired result.

If you can't bleach the item, try several washes in the hottest water recommended on the care label using detergent and an oxygen bleach like our Clorox2® Stain Fighter and Color Booster, or even a short 30 minute presoak in the oxygen bleach before the wash. It might require multiple treatments to get the desired result. Also, repeated washing usually will very slowly remove a small amount of dye each time.

Q. What's the right way to use Clorox bleach in my Frigidaire front-loading washing machine? The dispenser drawer has separate compartments for detergent, bleach and fabric softener. How much bleach should I be using? Are there any other points to remember when adding bleach to my machine?

A. The simple answer for bleach usage in any HE washer is whatever the bleach dispenser capacity happens to be. The only way you can add products to a HE machine is via the built-in dispenser unit and it's almost impossible to add more without negatively impacting the products in adjacent compartments from the overflow. On the Frigidaire we have in the lab, there is a Min- and Max- level indicator. So, fill the dispenser to the top and that should satisfy your needs.

While you are not adding as much as in a top-loader washer, less water and the fact that the bleach is dispensed a little later in the cycle means this will work for you.